Voting ends amid low voter turnout, allegations of irregularities: 2 dead

DE Online Desk
Voting in the 12th parliamentary election concluded on Sunday afternoon amid allegations of irregularities including ballot stuffing and sporadic violence in different parts of the country, leaving two people dead in Munshiganj and Cumilla and a number of people injured.
The polling that began at 8:00 am concluded at 4pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.
The counting of votes started immediately after the end of voting. Voting was postponed in three polling centers due to violence, capturing of polling stations and ballot stuffing.
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cast her vote at Dhaka City College in the capital Sunday morning.
Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam on Sunday said 27.15 percent votes were cast till 3 pm on Sunday, report agencies. He shared this information at a press conference held at the Agargaon Election Commission (EC) building.
Of the total vote, 25 percent votes were cast in Dhaka, 27 percent in Chattogram, 32 percent in Khulna, 22 percent in Sylhet, 29 percent in Mymensingh, 26 percent in Rajshahi, 26 percent in Rangpur and 31 percent in Barishal, he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said he is not thinking about voter turnout and his job is to arrange the elections.
UNB correspondents from Dhaka and different districts including Dinajpur, Chattogram, Bhola, Chapainawabganj and Khulna reported low voter turnout in the morning.
Lower-than-expected voter turnout was also observed in Cumilla, Bagerhat, Barishal and Habiganj in the first half of the election day.
A supporter of the Awami League candidate was stabbed to death allegedly by supporters of the independent candidate at Tengor in Mirkadim of Munshiganj’s Sadar upazila this morning.
Besides, Noab Ali, 60, a supporter of Awami League-candidate for Cumilla-4 Razee Mohammad Fakhrul was found dead near a polling centre at Kasharikhola in Debidwar upazila of Cumilla district on Sunday.
In Chattogram-10 constituency, two people were shot in a clash between supporters of Awami League candidate and independent candidate at Kalshi-Pahartali area.
Meanwhile, a clash broke out between police and BNP activists in the Chandgaon area of Chattogram city this morning after leaders and activists of the opposition party tried to bar voters from casting their votes.
Four people, including a child, were injured as two crude bombs exploded in front of Battala Jamia Anwarul Uloom Madrasa at Hazaribagh Battala in the capital around 11:30 am.
Crude bomb explosion was reported at a polling centre in Jashore an hour before voting began that injured a member of Bangladesh Ansar.